The stencil was delicately cut out of parchment.
She sifted the 200x sugar on top of the freshly baked chocolate cake.

“Perfect”, she thought, licking some of the extra sugar, “He will love that I’ve put so much into this Valentine’s celebration.”

Hours later as the dinner sat on the table cold, she cut into the center of the cake where the heart stencil had once laid.
Rhythmically the knife traced the heart as if she were cutting his heart out; for he had already cut hers.

Slowly she indulged in the sugary confection, playing scene upon scene in her mind. All of the times they had laughed, gotten drunk and made love.

Here she sat alone on Valentine’s Day eating her heart out, looking into the cavernous remains of the cake. The heart shape was still there, reminding her that she had dug her own grave by giving her heart away to a man who loved laughter, booze and sex more than he loved her.

What a joy to share our first Carpe Diem Special by Alexey Andreyev (1971- ), our featured haiku-poet from Russia. Next to his skills as a poet he has also skills as a painter and as a mathematician. He has a degree in Mathematics. By the way … I hope you all like our new logo for the Specials.

evening sky —
over the city lights
stars hardly seen
(c) Alexey Andreyev

Of course you know what the goal is of these Specials? But I will tell it anyway (smiles), because there are a few new contributors. The goal of these Specials is to write, compose an all new haiku inspired on the one given by our featured poet in the same sense, tone and spirit as the one given. Not an easy task, but it’s a challenge to look in another way to the writings of fellow haiku-poets both classic and modern.

Improve~
transitive verb
1 archaic : employ, use
2 a : to enhance in value or quality : make better
b : to increase the value of (land or property) by making it more useful for humans (as by cultivation or the erection of buildings)
c : to grade and drain (a road) and apply surfacing material other than pavement
3 : to use to good purpose intransitive verb
1 : to advance or make progress in what is desirable
2 : to make useful additions or amendments

Myself~
pronoun
1 : that identical one that is I — used reflexively , for emphasis , or in absolute constructions
2 : my normal, healthy, or sane condition

I have never publicly professed what I would resolve or declare to do in a new year.
I have always chosen a declaration or commonly known as resolution, they have always been private and personal, between me, myself, and I.
This year is different, I have accepted Trifecta’s challenge #99.

I thank Trifecta for the challenge, that has me getting myself even further out of my comfort zone than I would have imagined just 1 short year ago.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to partake in the Trifecta weekly challenges.
Trifecta is the reason that I started my blog on WordPress, just 10 short weeks ago.
Trifecta has allowed me to “show off” my words that I have always written, but never allowed myself the courage to share publicly.
Through reading other amazing writers who also participate weekly, I have found other writing prompts and challenges to participate in, further stretching myself.

Just 1 short year ago:
~I journaled several times a day.
~I wrote poetry on my Blackberry in the note section.
Guarding both my notebooks and phone so no one could read what I had written.

In the middle of January of 2013, I was informed about a class called The Artist’s Way. It was being held on a day that wasn’t convenient for my family, so I decided to buy the book and do the 12 weeks myself.

In early February of 2013, I joined a local writer’s group. I attended every meeting but, was unwilling to share my poetry.

In June of 2013, a professor from a local University spent 3 weeks ( 3 one hour sessions) teaching our group the fine art of modern Haiku. He and his wife publish books and a magazine of Haiku. They are leaders in HNA (Haiku North America). I waited until the day before our last session to email my Haiku to them out of fear that my writing was not up to par. However, during that last class we played a game called Kukai, where you pick between two Haiku in rounds tournament style. We did not know the authors of the Haiku. Our group voted, four of my Haiku made it into the final rounds. One of my pieces was picked as champion:

a morning without you
Summer Solstice
the longest day of the year

This blind recognition boosted my self esteem, I saw that my words were beautiful to the members– including the professor’s wife ( they didn’t just say so just to be nice), as well as to this professor who was the authority on Haiku.

In the middle of August of 2013, I decided to get an iPhone. My plan was to switch from my Blackberry and embrace Apple. I was hesitant to say the least. I downloaded a few apps and was waiting for my techie 20 year old son to show me the iPhone ropes. He is quite busy in the summer, being a lifeguard in addition to his staff position as assistant sound technician at our church. He was taking college classes and had a new blooming friendship with a young lady, so helping me was low on his list.

Having 2 weeks to decide if I was going to keep the iPhone or not, without my son’s tutorial, I decided to play around. Heyku is an app for Haiku or just expressing yourself in 3 lines with a maximum of 6 words per line. I played there first. I was hooked after posting the first one. Heyku is the reason I kept the iPhone, I wrote 600+ Heyku in less than 2 months.

Heyku is where I met an amazing woman, Grace Black. I noticed she had a blog so I signed up to receive her posts in my email box. A few weeks later I emailed her to talk about being a “real writer”. She gave me some encouraging advice and support , while nudging me to start my own WordPress blog. She told me about Trifecta’s 33 word weekend challenge, I figured it was time to expand myself from the 18 word limit of Heyku.

At the end of October of 2013, using my iPhone, I started my blog and entered my first Trifecta challenge, along with Grace and another Heyku friend, Jason. The warm welcome and support from participating Trifectians, was wonderful. I competed in several other Trifecta challenges and found other places that had prompts of words, photographs or word limits. I was hooked on this blogging idea and was coming further out of my comfort zone. Finding others outside of the Trifecta community who encourage me to continue to share my words, has been a gift that I wasn’t prepared for but I am so thankful for.

In November and December of 2013, I started sharing photographs on my blog. Before becoming a mother to 10 children, I was an active hobby B&W photographer, developing my own film.
In these months I have been honored with several blog awards. People from many countries around this big beautiful world were reading my words and finding value in what I was doing. Further taking me out of my comfort zone.

I opened myself further by starting: Tumblr blog,
Blogger blog (to more easily communicate with Trifectians and others not on WordPress),
About.me,
Facebook,
and Twitter.
I am slowly learning how to use all of these platforms to reach more people around the world with my words.

2014 is going to be a wonderful year as I reach my AIM resolution by aiming higher and further than I have ever imagined just 1 short year ago, with my words and iPhone photography.
I will be getting an Mac Pro in the next few days, further embracing Apple and the fact that what I have to say and share is important.

Join me on my new blog, A Creative Space that will be focusing on The Artist’s Way and other resources to encourage and inspire the creativity locked inside of each human to be released. As this happens I hope and pray that others will AIM further as well, taking themselves out of comfort zones that they were in just 1 short year ago.

In a few weeks, will open another blog that I’m starting here focused on helping people reach their health goals.
After my 10th child was born, I went from a size 12 to a size 4 in 12 short weeks. As a Life & Health coach, I have helped many people Change Habits And Make Progress.CHAMP Camp is for anyone who desires little or big changes in their physical life.

In March I will be launching another blog focusing on the mostly ups and sometimes downs of being a single homeschool mother to 10 children and 3 dogs. Join me as I celebrate The Life And Times Of Us

I love this Thoreau quote, it sums up my 2014 AIM resolution perfectly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AIM
Written for Trifecta challenge #99
Thank you to Webster’s for the definitions!

Happy 2014 to all of you beautiful souls that follow this blog, like what I have to say, and comment. You are all amazing humans and I’m so glad we have found each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read the rules and link up below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome back, brave Trifectans! And now on to our first challenge of 2014.

Michael Hess inspired us with his three word New Year’s resolution – just be nice. We’re asking for your own resolutions in just three words. Make it count; we’ll be checking back in come 2015.

And since this is our ninety-ninth Trifextra challenge, we’re giving away the journal shown below from Tricerashops, our Cafe Press shop, in a randomly drawn giveaway. All you have to do to be entered is to enter this week’s challenge. Good luck and good writing.

Ray Bradbury quote journal

This weekend’s challenge is community judged.
For the 48 hours following the close of the challenge, voting will be enabled on links.
In order to vote, return to this post where stars will appear next to each link. To vote, simply click the star that corresponds with your favorite post.
You can vote for your top three favorite posts.
Voting is open to everyone.Trifecta

Every morning I write 3 handwritten pages, and have since I was introduced to “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron on January 18th of this year.
This habit is the beginning of where I am today.
I have always had a ‘Journal’ or kept thoughts in notebooks, but this is NOT what Morning Pages are to me.

Stream of conscious writing…

Julia says, “I have crawled out of lovers’ beds to sneak off and write.”, in her book, “The Right To Write”.
I can fully relate to this concept.
Nothing will pull me away from this habit.

Getting the junk out so you can create…

I am far from where I want to be as a human being who creates but, I do know if I didn’t get the ‘junk’ out of my head first thing every morning, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

The Artist’s Way…

Pick up a copy of “The Artist’s Way” and join me on a 12 week journey towards nurturing, discovering and/or recovering your creative self through this spiritual path to higher creativity for 2014.

‘Cause one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest number, whoa-oh, worse than two

It’s just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday

One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do

It’s just no good anymore since you went away (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do (number)
One (one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do)(number)
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do (number)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The name of the group made me think of my Lucy who adopted me on first meeting, April 13, 2012.
She had been living at the animal control for one year before our meeting that one day.
Little did I know that black dogs are the least desirable.
Little did I know that Pit bull mixed dogs are the least desirable.
Little did I know that she would come into our home and within 15 months we’d go from zero dogs to three.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds…as I lovingly call her, was ONE in our home for nine months and here are a few Phoneography photos to show her off.

One dog

One cage

One year

One meeting

One walk

One seat

One driver?

One guard

One play

One coffee

One love

One helper

One happy

One friend (Zula)

One more (Daisy Mae)

Here’s to our ONE sweet pup Lucy in the sky with diamonds, who adopted our family and fits the song perfectly with her kaleidoscope eyes, Aaaaahhhhh!

“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”

Picture yourself in a boat on a river
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes

Cellophane flowers of yellow and green
Towering over your head
Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes
And she’s gone

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Aaaaahhhhh…

Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain
Where rocking horse people eat marshmellow pies
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers
That grow so incredibly high

Newpaper taxis appear on the shore
Waiting to take you away
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds
And you’re gone

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Aaaaahhhhh…

Picture yourself on a train in a station
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstyle
The girl with the kaleidoscope eyes

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Aaaaahhhhh…
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Aaaaahhhhh…
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds [fade out]

The love that The Father has lavished on me is more than I can imagine on most days.
I may not always understand this love but, when I look past myself, dig my roots deep into what I know and believe, the love of my Father will always be visible.
He loves me even in the midst of what I think are unfathomable circumstances.
His love can be seen even in a lonely desolate place.
The Tree Of Life growing in a dry desert.
In the middle of this place, the God of the Universe has allowed His beautiful creation to flourish and grow.
This is love.

Note:
Inspired by many things of this Advent week including this song that our Youth Group Band played Sunday morning in their service, The Well.
Before I run a few errands and then go to work at the restaurant, I worship with the Jr. and Sr. High students. It is so wonderful to watch them express their child-like faith. At 44, with much life experience (being a single Mother to 10 children…the children were planned, being single for 5 years wasn’t), I can still say that I am 13 in spirit so I fit right in with them!

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us, oh,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us, oh,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If his grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about the way…

He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us…
Oh, how He loves us…
Oh, how He loves us.

Blaming his ways on the Doctor’s diagnosis, the addictions from his youth

OCD! I’ve tried to figure its frustrating ways out like a sleuth

Back For Good, the lyrics he sweetly sings might be his truth

“Back For Good”

I guess now it’s time for me to give up
I feel it’s time
Got a picture of you beside me
Got you’re lipstick mark still on your coffee cup
Got a fist of pure emotion
Got a head of shattered dreams
Gotta leave it, gotta leave it all behind now

Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn’t mean it
I just want you back for good
Whenever I’m wrong just tell me the song and I’ll sing it
You’ll be right and understood

Unaware but underlined I figured out this story
It wasn’t good
But in the corner of my mind I celebrated glory
But that was not to be
In the twist of separation you excelled at being free
Can’t you find a little room inside for me

Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn’t mean it
I just want you back for good
Whenever I’m wrong just tell me the song and I’ll sing it
You’ll be right and understood

And we’ll be together, this time is forever
We’ll be fighting and forever we will be
So complete in our love
We will never be uncovered again

Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn’t mean it
I just want you back for good
Whenever I’m wrong just tell me the song and I’ll sing it
You’ll be right and understood
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back For Good 72 words
Written for Picture It & Writehttp://ermiliablog.wordpress.com/category/picture-it-write/

I ask for a nibble
just a crumb
something to satisfy
my hungry tongueThey want you too
flying wildly
to get the few
crumbs
that you offer
You give me a tiny bit
just a mere piece
teasing my lips
with the crumbs
you release

I ask for a drink
just a drop
something to satisfy
my parched tongueThey are all thirsty
fighting
for your grace
begging
for your mercy
You give me a splash
just laughing
at what I ask
roll up your window
never looking back

My heart hurts
My soul is weak
I have words
But I’m unable to speak
Sadness pours out
From every pore
And wants to shout
So you will hear
The pain so near
As it reverberates
From every tear
Telling stories
Telling truth
Of all that’s happened
Since my youth
The actions
The words
The common
The absurd
The all
The nothing
The history
Of me…
Note: My Daddy and I sang this song at church when I was 4 years old. I was too short to reach the mic, so I stood on a folding chair (what were we thinking?!!) Anyway, I’m still here and able to tell the stories of the absurd things from my youth. My Daddy passed on and this is my 2nd Christmas without him. I miss him something awful! “But if we are wise we know that there’s always tomorrow, lean on me….”, this will always be our song.

My fears become true
White you, Black me, muddled
Looking for color
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Duet was written with an amazing WP blogger Johnny check out his Haiku Spill #6, his weekly music link up, poetry and other Duets on his blog pages.
He also writes here: here
with other WP bloggers. They are looking for a few more voices to join them.

“Dude, do you see her? Oh my God, she’s an amazon if I’ve ever seen one.”

“Steer clear of that one, she’s a brick house inside and out.”

“What?”

“Last week at the club her Uncle owns, they scared this guy who was just asking her to dance.

Her Brother rushed in front of her with a NO TRESPASSING glare.

Her Mother stood in front of him with a veil and a bouquet of roses, gesturing him to come closer and pushing the Brother to the side.

Her Aunt cried, ‘The girl became hard hearted the day her Daddy died.'”

picture by Randy Maize
Brick House 100 Words
Written for Friday Fictioneers
Link your own up here:
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple | Growing older is inevitable. Growing up is optional.http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/

Sunlight
flaunts reality, dazzle illuminates
hope flushed down the hollow basin
-true love exiled into the dark
shadow of truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Into The Light 33 Words
Written for Trifextra 97
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Turn down the lights;
Turn down the bed.
Turn down these voices
Inside my head.

[Chorus:]
‘Cuz I can’t make you love me
If you don’t.
You can’t make your heart feel
Something it won’t.
Here in the dark
In these final hours,
I will lay down my heart
And I’ll feel the power;
But you won’t.
No, you won’t.
‘Cuz I can’t make you love me
If you don’t.

I’ll close my eyes,
Then I won’t see
The love you don’t feel
When you’re holding me.

Morning will come,
And I’ll do what’s right;
Just give me till then
To give up this fight.

Note: Listen to The Rolling Stones Some Girls and sing my words!
Here are theirs:
Some girls give me money
Some girls buy me clothes
Some girls give me jewelry
That I never thought I’d own
Some girls give me diamonds
Some girls, heart attacks
Some girls I give all my bread to
I don’t ever want it back
Some girls give me jewelry
Others buy me clothes
Some girls give me children
I never asked them for
So give me all your money
Give me all your gold
I’ll buy you a house back in Zuma beach
And give you half of what I own
Some girls take my money
Some girls take my clothes
Some girls get the shirt off my back
And leave me with a lethal dose
French girls they want Cartier
Italian girls want cars
American girls want everything in the world
You can possibly imagine
English girls they’re so prissy
I can’t stand them on the telephone
Sometimes I take the receiver off the hook
I don’t want them to ever call at all
White girls they’re pretty funny
Sometimes they drive me mad
Black girls just wanna get fucked all night
I just don’t have that much jam
Chinese girls are so gentle
They’re really such a tease
You never know quite what they’re cookin’
Inside those silky sleeves
Give me all you money
Give me all your gold
I’ll buy you a house back in Zuma beach
And give you half of what I own
Some girls they’re so pure
Some girls so corrupt
Some girls give me children
I only made love to her once
Give me half your money
Give me half your car
Give me half of everything
I’ll make you world’s biggest star by half
So gimme all your money
Give me all your gold
Let’s go back to Zuma beach
I’ll give you half of everything I own
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

A$$ets 205 words
Written for Trifecta: Week 106
The word is:

Here are the rules and where you can link up: Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends. Now let’s all write our tushes off.

Remember:
• Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.
• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.
• The word itself needs to be included in your response.
• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.
• Only one entry per writer.
• If your post doesn’t meet our requirements, please leave your link in the comments section, not in the linkz.
• Trifecta is open to everyone.
– See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/12/trifecta-week-106.html?m=0#sthash.uXMuPjCf.dpuf

Look into a creature’s eyes
See into their soul
All creatures have longings
That cannot be controlled
Know that each creature is worth
a hand to hold,
a heart to console,
an I love you to be told
***************************

Note: inspired by
*the picture prompt that I found somewhere last week and cannot remember where
*the quote below
*the song & lyrics below

With the holidays near, I encourage everyone to remember to show love in the days to come but, also consider to show love other times too. Don’t just save it for the holidays or as the song title says, “Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day”
Cheers!
~Unaware But Underlined

Leo Buscaglia
‘Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which the potential to turn a life around.’

Note: I have personally wanted to “give up” on humanity many times in my life.
People and their lack of sensitivity, hurts me…please listen to the song below and then go out and hug someone you’d never ever hug in a million years…I’ve given a stinky homeless man a hug after a 30 minute conversation on a freezing winter’s day.
I dislike being cold so this was sacrifice.
Oh, I gave him a fresh sandwich, fruit, veggies, and bottled water too.
Basic needs were taken care of, but I knew he wanted an ear and a hug, really…he was begging for more than just money for survival!!
Don’t forget: Humans are worth something…so don’t give up, keep looking up!

“I Won’t Give Up”

When I look into your eyes
It’s like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there’s so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you’ve come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

Well, I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up

And when you’re needing your space
To do some navigating
I’ll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

‘Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We’ve got a lot to learn
God knows we’re worth it
No, I won’t give up

I don’t wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I’m here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you’re still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn’t break, we didn’t burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I’ve got, and what I’m not, and who I am

I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up, still looking up.

Friday 13th Cross, my life verse is Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Underside of my left wrist (my very first one at 41 years old)

“Cave Woman’s Truth”
Top of left wrist

“Way.Truth. Life.
Faith. Hope. Love.”
Based on John 14:6 and 1 Corinthians 13:13
These wrap around my right wrist

I have 7 more little ones one my ankles but I’m not taking boots off at work to take photos….they are all from Friday 13th…. My studio is doing one last Friday 13th event in 12 days…I’m going to add to my left ankle….maybe then I’ll take photos…
13 is a magic number: I have Hebrew 13 and this is the meaning,
HaShem is echad (one)
Echad (one) is ahavah (love)
HaShem is ahavah (love)

If I sing but don’t have love
I waste my breath with every song
I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise
If I speak with a silver tongue
Convince a crowd but don’t have love
I leave a bitter taste with every word I say

So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

If I give
To a needy soul but don’t have love then who is poor?
It seems all the poverty is found in me

So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
Oh, let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

When it’s all said and done
When we sing our final song
Only love remains
Only love remains

Let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

I have been dreaming of blue turtles for the past few weeks.
A comment posted to a friend’s blog about the background of a piece he submitted for the last Trifecta on Wednesday, reminded me to look up Sting and other masters playing for his 60th birthday…he’s one handsome man at 62…mmmmm, mmmm!

Listen to the master Sting and then read the lyrics.
I fell in love with this whole album, The Dream Of The Blue Turtles, when I was a teenager in 1985…
Every song on the album is a hit and speaks TRUTHS…
These words are still TRUTHS many years later…

“Consider Me Gone”

There were rooms of forgiveness
In the house that we share
But the space has been emptied
Of whatever was there
There were cupboards of patience
There were shelfloads of care
But whoever came calling
Found nobody there

After today, consider me gone

Roses have thorns, and shining waters mud
And cancer lurks deep in the sweetest bud
Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun
And history reeks of the wrongs we have done

After today, consider me gone

I’ve spent too many years at war with myself
The doctor has told me it’s no good for my health
To search for perfection is all very well
But to look for Heaven is to live here in Hell

On to the quick and dirty Trifextra. This weekend we are assuming that many of you are slogging your way through leftovers and family bickering (or is that just us?) and thus we’re going way easy on you. This weekend we are asking for a 33-word free write. Give us whatever you’ve got.

This weekend’s challenge is community judged.
For the 14 hours following the close of the challenge, voting will be enabled on links.
In order to vote, return to this post where stars will appear next to each link. To vote, simply click the star that corresponds with your favorite post.
You can vote for your top three favorite posts.
Voting is open to everyone.
You have 14 hours to vote. It’s not much time, so be diligent! We’ll send out reminders on Twitter and Facebook.
The winners will be announced in the comments of Monday’s post and will be posted in our typical fashion in the post on the following Friday.
– See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/2013/11/trifextra-week-ninety-six.html?m=0#sthash.lUL8ENu0.dpuf